I'm so happy that I got five reviews! I think I never got so many reviews for only one chapter of a JCA fic before! Thank you very much!!
Hellblaze – I bet you got it right, hehe. I made Bai Tsa act childishly on purpose, maybe a bit inspired by the noble horse episode. Valmont did the same to annoy Tohru, so why not Bai Tsa too? n.n"
Queen Jade – Really cute, huh? I can just imagine little Hsi Wu... heehee. You'll soon find out why Jade's stomach hurt.
Forgotten Love – Hmm, knowing you, I bet you got it right too. You like the woman who captured Julia? ... I think you'll like to know who she is. You say I have the characters perfect in this, but I still think I need to work on Shendu and Bai Tsa, or two certain people might want to kill me.
VampireNaomi – Oh, I just remembered that there would be some V&BT vs. J&SD in this fic! Unfortunately, there won't be so much of them, but I'll try to add them as much as possible. I think I know what you'll think about the "mysterious woman" at first, but don't reach any conclusions just yet. Wait and see, ok?
Zero-Nightmare – Hi! Thank you for reviewing, I hope you like this chapter too. By the way, I've been wondering if you'll write something for JCA. Will you?
By the way, I'll go on a trip tomorrow and will be back in one week. Meanwhile, you can find out which demon you are in my new site (which is the "homepage" in my profile). The test is in the "Fun Stuff" section. n.n
Chapter 23: The Proposal
After seeking in the whole cemetery and few blocks around it, the J-Team and Captain Black met in front of the cemetery again and Jackie shook his head.
"This is useless, they must be very far away already..."
"Look on the bright side, Jackie," Viper said placing her hand on his shoulder. "At least we managed to rescue Jack and Jade."
"But Yade is still a child," Paco pointed out.
"Well, we don't have to worry about that. I'm sure Uncle and Tohru already found out a way to turn her and Captain Black back to normal," Jackie assured.
Jade opened the door of the shop and saw Tohru carrying two books to the library and Jack, Alice and Vinicius.
"It's about time, Jade!" Jack said and Jade frowned.
"Shut up, I'm not on the mood to put up with you, ok?" she snapped and went downstairs, heading to her room. Jack blinked in confusion and the twins glanced at each other.
"I think she's on a bad mood," Alice commented in a low tone.
"Well, duh," her brother said, trying to sound like the Chinese girl. He then glanced at the stairs and took a deep breath. "Maybe I should ask her what's wrong."
"You go there. I won't take more risks with her anymore," Jack said crossing his arms and Alice giggled while Vinicius went downstairs.
From the door or the library, Tohru sighed. He was worried about Jade as well, but perhaps Vinicius could solve it by talking to her. Then again, if he really wanted to help Jade, he should be helping Uncle to find a way to turn her back to an adult.
He lowered his head and slowly went back to the library.
Alice and Jack watched how the Japanese man left and found themselves alone in the room. They glanced at each other and smiled a bit nervously.
"I-I'm happy that you're back, Jack..." Alice said to start a conversation and break the silence. Jack relaxed a bit but avoided looking at her.
"It is... good to be back," he replied, rubbing the back of his head.
"Everybody missed you. Even in the school."
"School...?" he repeated remembering something. "That's right, the school! What will my teacher say? Do you know if my father came up with an excuse for my disappearance?"
"I think not, he was too busy looking for you."
"Oh no, what am I going to do now? I have school tomorrow and-"
"Oh, I almost forgot!" Alice interrupted and Jack looked at her curiously.
"What?"
"They changed the date of the dance!"
"Really? Then when is it going to be?"
The girl lowered her head and stared at the floor sadly.
"Tonight."
"What?!" he shouted in surprise. "Tonight?! Are you kidding me?! That's too early! I don't even have time to ask someone to go with me, and I don't wanna to go alone!" he complained.
The red-haired girl finally allowed herself to look at him, but still said nothing. Jack sighed and looked at her.
"What about you? Why you're going with?" he asked hopelessly.
"Actually... nobody asked me..." she admitted and lowered her glance again. He stared at her with a sorry expression for a while, until he had an idea the made him blush. He stood in front of her, crossing his arms behind himself.
"A-Alice..." he called shyly and she looked hopefully at him.
"Yes?"
"D-Do you... uhn... do you..." he stuttered and paused for a moment to calm down. He swallowed and took a deep breath. "Would you... like... to go to the dance with me...?"
She smiled, her expression was now cheerful again.
"Sure, I'd love to."
Vinicius knocked at the door of Jade's room and was quiet to hear an answer.
"Jade... can I go in?" he asked when it seemed that she would not say anything. She still did not answer and he opened the door carefully. "Jade?"
Jade was lying in her bed, writhing as if she had just been punched in the stomach. When he approached, he noted that cold sweat dripping down her temples and her breath was difficult.
"Jade, are you ok?" he asked in worry and she opened her eyes.
"Vinicius...?" she asked weakly and the boy went a bit closer.
"Is something wrong? Do you want me to call Uncle?"
"No!" she shouted suddenly rising and he stepped back, staring at her. She realised what she had just done and looked away. "I-I mean, don't worry. This is nothing, I'm fine. I just want to be alone... please?"
He reluctantly nodded and left the room, glancing at her one more time before closing the door.
"Tso Lan, you have not found the spell yet?" Bai Tsa asked impatiently to the moon demon, who was in the kitchen mixing some ingredients in a saucepan. He shook his head.
"Many ingredients are missing," he replied and that was enough for her to understand that she would not be back to normal any soon. She sighed both frustrated and angry, crossed her arms and went back to the living room. Hsi Wu flew from where he was and landed next to her.
"Well?"
She shook her head. "He needs more ingredients," she answered. He hissed impatiently and sat in the sofa again.
Bai Tsa glanced around herself and noticed that Tchang Zu, Dai Gui and Shendu were not there. She guessed they could not stand staying in a house anymore and went out to have fun by killing humans. She really did not care and was even glad that they were not around. This child form was humiliating and she was trying to avoid her siblings as much as possible, especially Shendu.
"So, what are we going to do about the ingredients?" Hsi Wu asked.
"How am I supposed to know? We have no idea of where we could get them." She hissed and began to think.
"Perhaps we can find them in the old Chan's shop," Xiao Fung suggested and she looked angry at him.
"Oh, yes, great idea. And how do you expect us to enter there?"
He shrugged. "Your slave can invite us."
"That's not the problem, you idiot!" she shouted, making him flinch. "The Chans are there and will not leave until they find out an antidote for the girl."
"What about my slave, then? She could bring us the ingredients," Hsi Wu stated.
"No, she could not!" Bai Tsa snapped at him.
"Why not?"
"Because, she is now free and in the safety of her family. She is still our enemy and you cannot force her to work for you anymore!"
Hsi Wu opened his mouth to protest, but gave up the idea. He could not tell his siblings about his relationship with Jade.
"You know..." Po Kong spoke after a long silent while and everybody's glance turned to her. "That little girl named Julia..." she began and paused to eat some cookies.
"Yes, we should find her," Xiao Fung completed her sentence and Bai Tsa glared at him.
"And why should we? We have more important things to do."
"I do not trust her, my sister," he answered.
"Me neither. Although she is a human, she helped us on her own will. That cannot be good," Po Kong added, still chewing the cookies.
"So what? She was just a child and too arrogant for someone her age. It's just as well that she's gone. Now we have nothing to worry about," Bai Tsa snapped.
"But the power of the Hun Yu jewel is growing stronger. That's beginning to get dangerous even for us," Hsi Wu said.
"So I say that we have to look for her and eliminate her while we still can," Po Kong stated and Valmont widened his eyes.
"What?! Eliminate her?! You can't do that!"
"Why not?" Xiao asked and then seemed to have remembered. "Oh, that's right... She is your daughter."
Hsi Wu flew again to land next to the crime lord. "I thought you two did not get along well," he remarked and Valmont stood up to get away from the sky demon.
"That doesn't mean I hate her!"
"But she does hate you," Bai Tsa pointed out, smirking.
"I don't care, I won't allow you to do that!"
"As if you could do that..."
"Bai Tsa, why don't you stop arguing with your slave and try to think of a way to get the missing ingredients?" Tso Lan scolded entering the living room and everybody looked at him.
"I tried, Tso, but it is impossible..." she admitted and sighed. The whole room was silent for a moment, until Valmont smiled.
"I think I have an idea," he announced.
"It's no good!" Xiao shouted teasing and Bai Tsa glared at him.
"Xiao, let him speak!" She demanded and turned to look at the boy again.
"Well, Julia once mentioned about Chan's son. She said he was too naïve and easy to manipulate. We could use him," Valmont proposed.
Tso Lan, Bai Tsa and Hsi Wu thought for a moment. "It is a good idea," the moon demon approved.
"Not bad..." Bai Tsa narrowed her eyes, smirking. "...for a human," she said the in a mocking tone, making Valmont glare at her.
"This is the best place you have?" the woman who captured Julia asked in despise to the three men behind her. They were in front of the Dark Hand's new Headquarters. She was still holding Valmont's daughter, who was trying to break free. Even though she had the power of the jewel, this woman was still much stronger than her. And she had done something very strange to Valmont's enforcers.
Julia was surprise to see how they suddenly looked like they were hypnotised. Obviously, this woman was not ordinary at all.
"Yes, it is..." Finn answered in a zombie tone and she snorted.
"Whatever. It's better than the place he took me to."
"He who?" Julia asked practically yelling while the woman entered the building. "And that's where I live, you can't stay here!" she continued protesting, but was completely ignored. As they went in, Julia hoped that they would meet someone who might help her, but the building seemed to be deserted.
"Take me to the best room you have in here," she ordered when they took the elevator. Chow pushed the button for the fourteenth floor. Julia relaxed a bit, there was no point in trying to escape inside an elevator. The elevator stopped and they stepped out, heading to the last door in the end of the long corridor while Julia began to struggle again.
Ratso rushed a bit to reach the door first and open it to the woman, who smiled pleased. As soon as they went in Julia's apartment, the woman closed the door and stood in front of it. She whispered five words in Chinese, slipping her index finger along the border of the door. A green line appeared where she touched and was gone few minutes later.
"Now that you cannot escape, you may wake up," she said snapping her fingers and the three men blinked and looked confused around themselves.
"Where are we?" Chow asked.
"And who are you?" Finn asked pointing at the unknown woman. She let go of Julia, who was immediately on guard.
"Who are you? What do you want with me?" she questioned.
"Quiet! I ask the questions here!" the woman snapped and looked at the girl curiously. "Tell me, who are you? You have such a great power, and I saw you fighting against Bai Tsa. And you were with Shendu."
Julia frowned. "You know the demons?"
"Answer me!"
"Make me," Julia provoked self-confidently and the woman's eyes turned from brown to glowing red. The four humans gasped and backed away.
"She's a demon?!" Chow asked horrified.
"Do not defy me, child! I am not afraid of you!" she hissed with a demoniac voice.
"So what? I'm not afraid of you either," Julia said rather calmly and her opponent's eyes turned brown again.
"No," the woman murmured pressing her temple. "I did not bring you here to fight. And I did not kidnap you either. Besides, your name is not important, your power is."
Julia placed her hand on her chest. "Yeah, I have the power of the Hun Yu jewel," she stated proudly.
"The Hun Yu jewel?!" the woman repeated in surprise. "But... you don't look pure."
"And I think I'm not, but that's why I have the tiger talisman to neutralise it and keep the balance."
"The tiger talisman?" She narrowed her eyes, looking serious. "Shendu actually gave you the tiger talisman?"
"Well... Kind of." Julia answered shrugging. "So, who are you? Shendu's friend?"
The other snorted in amusement. "Friend? Shendu's friend? Don't make me laugh."
The girl raised a brow, but did not say anything. Finn, Chow and Ratso just stared in complete confusion, trying to understand something of the conversation.
"Uh... but you're a demon, right?" Finn confirmed and she snapped in annoyance, and held Julia's shoulders.
"Listen, I want to make a deal with you, all right?" she said impatiently.
"Deal? What sort of deal?"
"I have been watching the city, and I found out that there is a chi wizard living in a small shop near here. He has a book that I need, but I cannot enter the shop. I want you to go there and bring me that book."
"Me? Why should I do that for you?"
"You can not control the power of the jewel, can you?"
The white-haired girl was in silence.
"I see. You can not. But I can teach you."
"Really?" Julia asked in suspicion. "And... why do you want that book?"
The woman smiled. "Revenge."
"No, please! Please, don't kill me!" the helpless teenager begged and screamed when the brown-haired man grabbed her. He squeezed her neck and twisted it. Her neck immediately broke and the man looked at his blond companion, who stepped closer.
"Where is Shendu?" he asked.
"Dai Gui does not know," the first man replied.
"I am here," Shendu in his human form said, approaching them in the dark alley. The duo frowned, looking him up and down.
"You idiot, look at yourself! Your clothes are covered in blood!" Dai Gui snapped.
"It wasn't my fault! It was a difficult prey!" the dragon defended and flinched when felt. He looked at the sky and his two siblings blinked.
"What is it?" they asked, but the fire demon did not answer. Instead, he nimbly jumped to the roof of the building at his right side. There, he observed the city and narrowed his eyes.
Something was wrong...
It was almost five o'clock when Jade woke up. Maybe she had been just tired after all, since she felt really fine now. She went downstairs humming cheerfully and saw Uncle seated in front of his table, tiredly reading an old book.
"Hey, Uncle," she said and only then he noticed her presence.
"Jade!" he said a bit surprised and even worried. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I think I was just tired," she answered shrugging and leaned on the table. "So, have you already found a way to make me an adult again?"
Uncle turned to continue reading the book. "No. Can't find the right spell anywhere."
Jade moaned in frustration and headed to the kitchen. Vinicius was there, having a snack.
"Hi, Jade," he said.
"Vinicius? What are you doing here?"
"Ask you to go with me," he answered simply.
"Where to?" she asked raising a brow.
"To the dance. I thought you needed some fun to forget all the trouble you have been going through."
"A dance?" she asked in suspicion. "Like a date?"
"No, no, no, it's not supposed to be an exclusively romantic party. You'll meet some friends of mine, eat junk food, swim in the pool..."
"Hmm, okay then. I think..." she said still a bit unsure.
"Then hurry, get dressed and let's go! It's about to start!"
"Huh?"
In the centre of the living room, Tso Lan was preparing a spell in a bowl with a glowing bluish liquid. He, Bai Tsa, Po Kong, Hsi Wu, Xiao Fung and Valmont were around it, waiting to see what would be the result.
"I have found Chan's son," the moon demon announced and everybody looked even more carefully at the bowl. The image of Jack Chan appeared, and it also showed that he was in a sort of party. "We have to go to the north," Tso Lan added and Bai Tsa frowned.
"What's that place where he is?"
"I think it's a school. Most likely the same school that Julia attended," Valmont said.
"Then you take them there," Tso said.
"But we don't know what ingredients you need. Only you do," Hsi Wu pointed out and Po Kong smiled amused.
"Then you have to go with them Tso Lan," she said and Tso Lan just glared at her.
"I will go with you," a familiar voice said from the door and they turned to see the three missing brothers.
"You, Shendu?" Xiao Fung asked as surprised as the others. Tchang Zu frowned in suspicion, but remained in silence.
The dragon nodded. "I feel that I have to go. Something important is going to happen."
To be continued...